One of the rarest birds in the UK – the Hen Harrier - has seen record numbers being illegally killed or going missing in suspicious circumstances over the past five years. More here>
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Chicks fledge after Hen harrier disappearances
Five Hen harrier chicks have fledged "against the odds" after four breeding males disappeared, the RSPB said. More here >
Monday, July 21, 2025
CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)
July 21st 2025
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
8 Eurasian Spoonbill-3 Juveniles and 2 Spotted Redshank-Boathouse Flash-Parkgate
July 20th 2025
National Mega News
Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
512 Manx Shearwater, 12 Gannet and 420 Sandwich Tern early morning -Hilbre.
Ruddy Shelduck and Eurasian Spoonbill-Hale Head Lighthouse
Little Stint-N06 Tank-Frodsham Marshes
July 19th 2025
National Mega News
Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
Red-breasted Merganser, 102 Little Egret, 1750 Oystercatcher, 130 Dunlin, 4 Knot, 2050 Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel, 1200 Curlew, 2100 Redshank, Greenshank, 3 juv Yellow Wagtail at high tide -Heswall.
7 Eurasian Spoonbill-Boathouse Flash-Parkgate
Ruddy Shelduck-Hale Head Lighthouse
Little Stint-N06 Tank-Frodsham Marshes
July 18th 2025
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
3,000+ Dunlin, early high tide - Meols.
8 Avocet incl very young juv, 7 Spoonbill (incl 3 juv) and Spotted Redshank - Parkgate.
Bittern in flight heading towards BMW - Burton Marsh.
Wood Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.
17th July 2025
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
Wood Sandpiper-Burton RSPB
7 Eurasian Spoonbill-3 Juveniles and a Spotted Redshank-Boathouse Flash-Parkgate
Quail-Two singing males in corn fields-Whitley Reed
Ruddy Shelduck-Hale Head Lighthouse
16th July 2025
National Mega News
Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
6 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB
15th July 2025
National Mega News
Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
6 Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh
Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB
14th July 2025
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
4 Eurasian Spoonbill and 2 Spotted Redshank-Parkgate Marsh
2 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB
13th July 2025
National Mega News
Soft-plumaged Petrel-Lizard Point-Cornwall
Soft-plumaged Petrel
(C)Mike Mckee
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
4 Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh
Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB
12th July 2025
National Mega News
Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
Black Necked Grebe-23+ (15+ juveniles)-Woolston Eyes-Permit Only
Juvenile Black-necked Grebe
(C)Dave Bowman
Eurasian Spoonbill-Burton RSPB
3 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB
Spotted Redshank-One on the Mersey-Hale
Thursday, July 10, 2025
SOUTHERN MIGRANT HAWKER-OTMOOR RSPB
Over the past two years, I have visited various sites across the British Isles in pursuit of different Odonata species. Recently, a social media post caught my eye reporting sightings of Southern Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna affinis) at Otmoor RSPB, Oxfordshire. Observers had noted a few teneral females and two striking blue males over the past few days. Having never seen this species before—and with Otmoor just half an hour from where I am staying—it offered a convenient alternative to a longer journey to Kent, the traditional stronghold for this dragonfly in Britain.
The first breeding colonies of Southern Migrant Hawkers were established along the Thames Estuary, though the species is now spreading across southern England and has even been recorded in Wales. Before the 21st century, only a single individual had been confirmed in Britain, in Kent in 1952. Sporadic records followed in 2006, but it was the 2010 influx that marked the first confirmed breeding in England.
Today, I visited Otmoor for the first time. After several hours of searching without success, I was fortunate to meet another dragonfly enthusiast who was also hoping to find this species. We exchanged phone numbers to stay in touch, in case one of us located a Southern Migrant Hawker.
While exploring the reserve, I was delighted to encounter the long-staying Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) and several other notable birds, which added to the enjoyment of the visit.
Cattle egrets were in good numbers on the reserve.
Common Tern
Glossy Ibis
Although the reserve held a good variety of dragonflies, I had no luck locating the Southern Migrant Hawker and began making my way back to the car.
Emperor Dragonfly
Ruddy Darter
Common Blue Damselfly
Brown Hawker
Banded Demoiselle
Southern Hawker
Black-tailed Skimmer
As I walked back to the car, I spotted Jed—the fellow dragonfly enthusiast I had met earlier—walking ahead of me. Suddenly, he turned, spotted me, and began waving excitedly. As I drew closer, I realised why: he had found a Southern Migrant Hawker (Aeshna affinis) roosting on a bush. Absolutely unbelievable.
Southern Migrant Hawker
I could hardly believe it. The male sat calmly in the evening sun, allowing us to take several photographs before it eventually flew off—truly a remarkable sight.
The Southern Migrant Hawker (Aeshna affinis) was once an exceptionally rare migrant from the Mediterranean, but over the past two decades it has become increasingly common and is now breeding in southern England. The males are strikingly blue, with bright blue eyes, yellowish-green sides to the thorax, and a black abdomen adorned with extensive blue markings, including a distinctive triangular blue patch at the top.
This was a fantastic addition to my life list, leaving only one more Odonata species—the Irish Damselfly—remaining. Next year, I plan to travel to Ireland to complete my British Odonata list.
It was a wonderful end to the day, and the Muntjac seemed completely unconcerned as it casually led us back toward our cars.
Wednesday, July 09, 2025
CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)
11th July 2025
National Mega News
Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire
10th July 2025
National Mega News
Greater Sandplover-Haroldswick-Unst-Shetland
Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
Common Quail-Two singing males in field west of Holly Bush Lane yesterday evening; note Holly Bush Lane is a private road, park elsewhere and walk to listen-Rixton
9th July 2025
National Mega News
Greater Sandplover-Haroldswick-Unst-Shetland
Barolo Shearwater-Scilly Pelagic-Isles Of Scilly
Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
5 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB
8th July 2025
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
Black Necked Grebe-32+ (17+ juveniles) still on No 4 Bed; do not walk along bunds. Reserve open from 08:00-20:00-Permit Only-Woolston Eyes
Common Scoter-Doddington Pool
Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB
7th July 2025
National Mega News
Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
5 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB
6th July 2025
National Mega News
Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
Common Quail-Singing male off Raby Mere Road; park on grassy lay-by
Spotted Redshank-Atleast one and a Spoonbill-Burton RSPB
5th July 2025
National Mega News
Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
Spotted Redshank-Atleast one,Wood Sandpiper and a Spoonbill-Burton RSPB
Garganey-N03 tank-Ruddy Shelduck-Frodsham Marshes
Common Quail-Singing male in field west of Holly Bush Lane/Woodend Lane junction; note Holly Bush Lane is a private road, park elsewhere and walk to listen-Rixton
Channel Wagtail-One still near River Mersey in potato field-Hale
4th July 2025
National Mega News
Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
Eurasian Spoonbill-Neston Marsh-Neston
4 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB
Ruddy Shelduck-Still on River Mersey off Hale Lighthouse this afternoon-Hale
3rd July 2025
National Mega News
Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
Channel Wagtail-At least one male still towards Hale Head this evening-Hale
Ruddy Shelduck-One again on River Mersey below Marsh Farm this evening-Frodsham Marshes
2 Garganey-Two eclipse drakes again on No 3 Bed from John Morgan Hide-Woolston Eyes-Permit Only
2nd July 2025
National Mega News
Zitting Cisticola-singing male in coastal grass 200m south-east of Foreness Point-Kent
Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
4 Common Scoter-Acre Nook Sand quarry
1st July 2025
National Mega News
Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire
Cheshire and Wirral Bird News
2 Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate marsh-Parkgate
Ruddy Shelduck-Still on River Mersey off Spike Island-Widnes
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